BRENDAN RODGERS pleaded with his supporters to be patient with the club’s short passing game - because “smashing it up the pitch” hasn’t got Scottish football very far in the last two decades. The Northern Irishman gestured to the fans behind the technical area as Celtic required a late strike from substitute Callum McGregor to maintain their 53-match unbeaten domestic run with a 1-1 draw against St Johnstone. The result means the Parkhead side go into the international break two points behind Aberdeen, who won 4-3 at Partick Thistle to maintain their perfect record.
“This is football ... you have to stay calm when you are under pressure,” said Rodgers. “Not just the players but outside. Or you can play Scottish football and just smash it up the pitch – that hasn’t got you far for 20 odd years. So you have to play. The support is amazing for us, they give incredible momentum with their enthusiasm in the game, but naturally you have to stay calm. Everyone wants to see the ball in the box but you have to build your way through and we still had time in the game.”
Rodgers said there was “nothing new” on the club’s loan deal for Partick Roberts and he was awaiting clarification on the club’s pursuit of Ajax Cape Town defender Rivaldo Coetzee, amid reports from South Africa the £800,000 target had failed a medical after scans showed a bone in his foot which had failed to fuse properly. “Okay,” said Rodgers, when informed about the reports. “I am awaiting on that. My understanding is that Tim [Williamson, the physio] is over there so I will get the clarification on that. But I expect between now and the end of the market to have a number of additions.”
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